Container construction



Nov. 5, 1940.

0. w. WENTZ CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN'VENTOR E/ TZ.

BWZZQWW ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1940. o. w. WENTZ CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INIVENTOR @5042 M IfA/TZ.

Nov. 5, 1940. o. w. WENTZ CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 1, 1937 IN'VENTOR 05cm? /4. l lvvrz.

Nov. 5, 1940. Q w W TZ 2,220,746

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 056A? 14/ H EWTZ.

Y/ZLTVWT ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1940. o. w. WENTZ CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 950% M IVE/v72.

BYW. I

pflam/ [MM ATT RNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to container construction, and more particularly to liquid-proof containers 'made of sheet material like paper, cardboard, fibrous materials, or the like.

5 One of the objects of this invention is to provide a practical and dependable liquid-proof container construction capable of efiicient use under the varying conditions of practice. Another object is to provide a container construc- 10 tion of the above-mentioned character which will be inexpensive to manufacture, capable of ready and convenient shipment or storage,

when empty, in collapsed form, andcapable of ready, efficient and inexpensive closure after 15 filling. Another object is to provide a container construction of the above-mentioned character which will be of sanitary construction and well adapted for the handling of beverages and for the drinking thereof directly from the 90 container.

Another object is to provide a container construction of the above-mentioned character for containing drinkable liquids with means related thereto or embodied therein to make it simple,

25 easy, sanitary and eflicient to consume the liquid directly from the container. Another object is to provide a container for drinkable liquidswith simple, effective and inexpensive tube-like means for permitting withdrawal of the liquid directly from the container. Another object is to provide a container construction that will be dependable, sanitary and yet of such inexpensiveness as to make it possible to .retail therein drinkable liquids, beverages, and the like, for

drinking directly from the container, while insuring dependable sanitary conditions prior to preparation of the container for actual consumption of its contents.

Other objects will be in part obvious or, in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

, In the accompanying drawings in which are shown several of .the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view or development of a blank of paper or the like from which the container may be made;

. a front flap E, appearing in Figure 2 is a side elevation of the container in an earlier stage of its construction;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, as seen along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, toshowcertain features of the construction more clearly;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the manner in which the container in one stage of its manufacture may be collapsed for storage, stacking or shipment;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container as it appears when filled or closed or sealed;

- Figure 6 is an end elevation indicating a preferred manner of folding of the ends of the container to bring about a closure thereof;

Figure 7 is a horizontal or transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, as seen along the line 1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a view as seen from the top in Figure 5, showing how the structure appears when certain parts are removed;

Figure 9 is a plan View or development of a blank of paper, or the like, from which a modified form of container may be made;

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the container in one stage of its construction;

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view, as seen along the line ll--ll of Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the completed and filled container. 1

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring first to Figure 1, I prefer to give the blank, cut out of paper, cardboard, or other suitable sheet material an outline or shape substantially as indicated in Figure 1 with score or fold lines as there shown. Illustratively and preferably the blank is in general rectangular in shape. I Thus, between the parallel left-hand edge 20 and the right-hand edge 2| of the blank, I provide score lines 22, 23, 24 and 25, defining therebetween generally rectangular areas representing what will-be termed the front wall A, a side wall B, a rear wall C, a side wall D, and that order from left'to right, as viewed in Figure 1.

Where the container is to be of rectangular A, brought preferably along the central or Flap E, however, which of, when it is lapped relative to the front wall median line of the front wall A; preferably, and for preferred reasons later set forth, it is of a materially greater width than that of front wall A.

Extending lengthwise of and preferably symmetrically positioned with respect to the median line of the flap E are two pairs of score or fold lines 26, 21 and 28, 29.

The upper edge of the flapwhich these two pairs of score lines intersect preferably extends in the same line with the upper edges of the walls A, B, C and D, the upper edge of the rear wall C being defined by a. score line 30 because in one possible embodiment there extends upwardly from this rear wall C, integrally formed therewith, a closure flap F, to be later described. The lower ends of the two pairs of score lines 26-21 and 2829 are preferably made to terminate short of the lower alined edges of the walls A, B, C and D, the lower bounding line or edge of the rear wall C being indicated by a score line 3| because,

if preferred, the rear wall C may be extended downwardly to form a flap G, if desired, that takes part in effecting a closure at the bottom; such termination of these two pairs of score lines and also of the long and narrow areas. or portions H, J, K which they define, is brought about by cutting away the lower right-hand portion of the flap E, as indicated at L, for a purpose later set forth. To both sides of the three narrow areas or portions H, J and K there are left portions E and E of the flap E, each of substantial width, portion E being shorter than the portion E because of the cut-away corner at L.

In the two side walls B and D are additional score lines preferably arranged to outline triangular areas. Thus, spaced downwardly from the upper ends of the side wall areas 13 and D are score lines 32, 33, 34 and 35, 36, 31, respectively, outlining triangular areas M and O, the apexes thereof being joined to the upper marginal edges by score lines 38 and 39, as shown.

In like manner, score or fold lines 42, 43, 44 and 45, 46, 41 outline triangular areas P and Q adjacent the lower ends of the side wall areas B and D, respectively, these triangular areas, however, being inverted as shown, and their apexes being joined to the lower end edge of the blank by score lines 48 and 49, respectively.

With the blank thus formed, it may now be folded and glued into a tube-like form of quadrangular cross-section. This may be achieved by giving the blank bends or folds along the four fold lines 22, 23, 24 and 25, an operation which brings the front wall A and the flap E in overlapping relationship. As this is being done or prior thereto certain bending or folding operations are performed upon the fiap E along its score lines 26, 21, 28 and 29' and in the illustrative embodiment of Figure 1 this folding is achieved by causing the long and narrow part H to fold or lap over the portion E with the fold line 26 as an axis and by causing the long and narrow portion K to fold or lap over the portion E with the fold line 29 as an axis, the intermediate long and somewhat wider portion J being thus displaced from the common plane of the portion E and E but maintained parallel to that plane, as is better shown in cross-section in Figure 3.

The width of the portions E H, J, K and E are preferably so proportioned that when the above described folding operation is completed the over-all width of the fiap E as a single entity is substantially equal to the width of the front wall A, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, and so that there is present a space of appropriate width between the adjacent longitudinal boundaries (really the fold lines 26 and 29) of the portions E and E Accordingly, when the blank is now folded into the above-mentioned tube-like form with the flap E folded as just described, the inside face of the front wall A and the outside faces of the portions E and E are brought into juxtaposition and contact, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, and these contacting faces are secured together by a suitable adhesive interposed therebetween at an appropriate stage or step in the above-described folding operations. Thus, for example, the adhesive may be applied to the proper face of the front wall area A of Figure 1 or to the appropriate faces of the portions E and E the latter preferably after the portions H, J and K have been folded relative to the portions E and E as above described. The resultant container construction is tube-like in form, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and illustratively is of quadrangular cross-section, it being noted that when the parts E -E are secured to the part A, the part A closes over what is otherwise an open channel As is better indicated in Figure 2, this tube-i like passage R terminates at its upper end at the upper horizontal end edge of the front wall A but, because of the cut-out at L (Figures 1 and 2) as described above, the lower terminus of the tube-like passage R terminates an appropriate distance upwardly from the lower edge of the front wall A. I prefer this arrangement where, as in the illustrative embodiment, it is preferred to relate the upper terminus of the passage R to and with a closure at the upper end of the container and to keep the lower terminus of the passage R free and clear of the bottom or closure at the lower end of the container.

The container construction, if it is desired to stack, store or ship it unfilled, may be collapsed into a form as indicated in Figure 4, as, for example, by bringing the front wall A and side wall D into substantially the same plane and doing likewise with respect to the side wall B and the rear wall 0. In this connection, it is to be noted that the passage R is protected against being collapsed, flattened out or otherwise impaired, and because the portion J which forms the inner wall is held spaced from the front wall A which forms the outer wall of the passage R by at least two thicknesses of the material of which the container ismade. This appears clearly from Figures 3 and 4.

Turning now to the container as it appears in Figure 2, the lower end thereof is closed in any suitable manner, preferably by appropriate folds in which the score lines appearing in the lower portions of the side walls B and D of Figure 1 take part. Thus, as is indicated in Figure 5,

each side of each of the score lines 48 and 49 folding respectively about the latter with their respective lowermost end edges coming into the above-mentioned straight-line relationship of the two end edges of the front and rear walls A and C.

Any suitable means may now be employed to hold and seal the parts in this closure-forming relationship. Thus, for example, the flap G (Figure 1) may be folded over the above-mentioned straight-line relationship of the end edges and glued to the outside face of thefront wall A which it is made to overlap. If desired, a sheet metal clamp 50 (Figure 5) of U-shaped crosssection may be employed in place of the flap G or even superimposed over the flap G and its holding action, the two portions of the sheet metal clamp 50 being pressed together in any suitable way.

In effecting this closure at the bottom and as above pointed out in connection with Figure 2, the lower end of the tube-like passage R terminates a slight distance upwardly from the region where the folded portions are clamped, being out of the range of any folding or clamping action and hence its lower end is dependably maintained open.

The container construction which at this stage may be paraflined or otherwise treated, if desired, may now be filled with the liquid which it is to contain, illustratively a drinkable liquid. Its upper end may now be closed. Preferablythis is achieved by bringing into action the fold or score lines in the upper regions of the side walls B and D (see Figure l) and in Figure 6 an intermediate relationship of the parts undergoing this folding action is shown, particularly with respect to the upper open end of the passage R. The upper ends of the front and rear walls A and C are brought toward each other, the inner face of the front wall A carrying with it the portion E folded as above described and hence carrying with it also the upper end portion of the passage R. At the same time, the triangular areas M and 0 swing inwardly about the fold lines 32 and 35, respectively, and the polygonal portions ST fold toward each other about the score line 38 as do also the polygonal portions U--V about the score line 39, being brought into contact with each other only along their upper end edges.

This relationship is better shown on an enlarged scale in Figure '7 and it will be seen that the parts are so proportioned that the inward folding of the parts S-T and U-V leave ample space between them for accommodating the maximum transverse dimension of the parts that form the passage R.

Thus, there is, in this preferred form, interposed between the front-and rear wall portions A and C substantially three thicknesses of material and in the preferred embodiment it will be seen that such three thicknesses are substantially uniformly distributed throughout the width of the container at its upper closed end. This latter arrangement is particularly advantageous in bringing about a sealing or closing of the container as by some clamping arrangement.

With the parts held in this position, the flap F (Figures 1 and 6), integral with the rear wall C is now brought or folded over the upper end of the container comprising, as it does, multiple thicknesses of material (see Figure 7) alined along a straight line. The flap F is brought into as, for example, by an appropriate adhesive, thus closing and sealing the upper end of the container. The container in this condition appears as shown in Figure 5, from which it will be seen to have a tube-like body of generally quadrangular cross-section at the two opposed ends of which closures are effected by the folding, as above described, along the various fold lines of the various flaps and portions of the blank, forming, in the illustrative embodiment. a straight-line closure at each endof the container.

The flap F is preferably shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 6, being provided with a tab F which is preferably not secured against or to the front wall A, the material of the flap F being weakened or scored along the lines 5| and 52 which are in line with the vertical marginal edges of the tab F This tab F may be grasped by the fingers of the hand and lifted up, effecting a tearing of the flap F along the lines 5|, 52, whence the portion of the flap F intermediate of the tear lines SI, 52 may be torn off, if desired, along the score line 30, resulting in an exposure of the upper open end of the tube-like passage R, as is best shown in Figure 8. The container may now be raised to the mouth, the upwardly converging or tapered configuration, as better appears in Figure 5,1ending itself to convenient insertion or reception between the lips, whence the contents may be withdrawn through the tube passage R. According to certain features of my invention, I may give the blank a shape or form like that shown in Figure 9 in which the flap E is shaped as shown,

being materially cut away as at W and X; it has four longitudinally extending score lines I26, I21, I28 and I29 grouped substantially as shown to provide relatively narrow portions H, J and K intermediate of a relatively short marginal portion E and the remaining portion E of the flap E. Also, the upper end of the front wall A has a cut-out Y illustratively semi-circular.

The blank of Figure 9 is folded first into tubelike form, preferably of quadrangular cross-section somewhat as was described above in connection with Figures 1 and 2, excepting that the flap E as described above is brought to overlap the external face of the front wall A after the parts H J and K have been folded along their fold lines I26, I21, I28, I29, substantially in the manner shown in Figures 10 and 11 to form with the front face of the front wall A a tube-like passage Z. Appropriate adhesive is applied, preferably to the under faces, as, viewed in Figures 10 and 11, of

the flap portions E and E to secure the latter be collapsed in a manner described above in connection with Figure 4 for storage, packing, or shipment, and. its subsequent treatment to fold it into a tube-like body of generally quadrangular cross-section from whose upper and lower ends extend the flaps and other portions folded into straight-line closures may proceed in the manner already above described in connection with Figures 1-8, the resultant filled and closed and sealed container appearing as shown in Figure 12.

From Figure 12 it will be seen that the flap F, secured to the upper end of the front wall A (excepting for the tab F closes over the cut-out Y and that the tube-like passage Z and the parts forming it appear externally of the front wall A.

The portions H J and K are preferably so, dimensioned or proportioned as to snugly receive,

into the tube-like passage Z which they form with the front wall A, the usual form of package, generally indicated at 55, of two so-called straws. As is well known, it is common practice to furnish drinking straws in pairs wrapped in an easily breakable form of tissue-like paper, the latter being thus easily removable to free the straws for use.

The passage 55 of straws may be held against dropping out of the passage-like holder Z in any suitable way. For example, the cross-sectional area of the passageway may be so proportioned,

with respect to the dimensions of the straw package, that the latter is frictionally held therein,

the resiliency of the portion J (Figure 11), or,

for that matter of the three portions H J and K taking part, if desired, in yieldingly holding or gripping the package 55 of straws from slipping out. Or the lower end of the tube-like passage Z, as viewed in Figure 12, may be closed off in any suitable manner, not shown, such as, for example, by extending the passageway Z downwardly toward the closure-retaining device 50, thereby causing it to partake of the bend or curvature in the wall A, such curvature stopping the downward movement of the package 55 of straws inasmuch as the latter would not partake of a like curvature.

It is in this condition that the drinkable liquid may be dispensed, the purchaser exposing the aperture formed by the cut-away portion Y by pulling on the tab F to tear the flap F along the tear lines 5|, 52, whence the package 55 of the two straws may be slid out of the holder which the tube-like passage Z forms and the two straws inserted through the now exposed opening Y and the contents withdrawn.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a container construction in which the various objects hereinabove noted together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. The container constructions are peculiarly and particularly adapted for the retailing of drinkable liquids like milk for quick lunches, beverages and the like at schools, ball parks, and the like; if desired, the container constructions may be, by a dispenser of drinkable liquids, purchased in bulk in flattened or collapsed form, the bottom closure effected, the container filled, and the top closure effected.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A container construction comprising sheet material folded into tube-like form, one of the longitudinal walls of which comprises substantially two layers of said sheet material adhesively secured together, one of said layers having a longitudinally extending portion scored and fold ed to form with the other layer a tube-like paslongitudinal walls of which comprises substantially two layers of said sheet material adheslvely secured together, one of said layers having a longitudinally extending portion scored and folded to form with the other layer a tube-like passageway, said tube-like passageway being exposed exteriorly of said container and forming a pocket for the reception of a straw, or the like, said container having a closure including a removable flap through which the interior .of the container may be exposed and said straw inserted.

3. A container construction comprising sheet material folded into and held in tube-like form, said material having longitudinally extending overlapping fiap-like or marginal portions to form throughout their common lengthwise extent two layers of said sheet material, one of said layers having a longitudinally extending portion scored. and folded to form with the other layer a tubelike passageway of a cross-section materially less than that of said tube-like form of container itself.

4. A container construction comprising sheet material folded into tube-like form, one of the longitudinal walls of which comprises substantially two layers of said sheet material adhesively secured together, one of said layers having a longitudinally extending portion scored and folded to form with the other layer a tube-like passageway, -said tube-like form being flattened out to folds so as to interpose a plurality of thicknesses of the sheet material between two opposed bounding wall portions forming said passageway, whereby complete collapsing of the latter is prevented. 5. A blank for containers comprising a sheet of material like heavy paper, or the like, of generally quadrangular shape having substantially parallel spaced score lines therein defining and alternating with each other front, rear, and two side walls, with a longitudinal flap extending along one of the marginal walls thus defined, 4

whereby said blank may be folded into tube-like form and said flap secured to the other marginal wall, and score lines adjacent the respective ends of each of said two side walls including score lines along which the end portions of said side Walls may each be folded upon itself, whereby, when said blank is folded and secured into said tubelike form and the opposed end edges of the front and rear walls at each end of the latter brought together along a substantially straight line, the

respective said end portions of said side walls fold each upon itself along said score lines respectively and become alined along said straight line, said longitudinal flap being extended in the direction of its width and having extending therealong spaced score lines whereby said flap may be creased or folded longitudinally when brought into juxtaposition with and secured to the other marginal wall and there is formed by the folded portion of said fiap a tube-like passageway.

6. A blank for containers comprising a sheet of material like heav'y paper, or the like, of generally quadrangular shape having substantially parallel spaced score lines therein defining and alternating with each other front, rear, and two side walls, with a longitudinal fiap extending along one of the marginal walls thus defined, whereby said blank may be folded into tube-like form and said flap secured to the other marginal wall, and score lines adjacent the respective ends of each of said two side walls including score lines along which the end portions of said side walls may each be folded upon itself, whereby,

direction of its width and having extending therealong spaced score lines whereby said flap may be creased or folded longitudinally when brought into juxtaposition with and secured to the other marginal wall and there is formed by the folded portion of said flap a tube-like passageway, said flap being foreshortened or cut away throughout only a portion of at least one end thereof and to include the said fold lines therein, whereby at least one end of said tube-like pasageway is made to terminate short of the closure at that end of the ultimate container.

'7. A blank for containers comprising a sheet of material like heavy paper, or the like, of generally quadrangular shape having substantially parallel spaced score lines therein defining and alternating with each other front, rear, and two side walls, with a longitudinal flap extending along one of the marginal walls thus defined,

whereby said blank may be folded into tube-like form and said flap secured to the other marginal wall, and score lines adjacent the respective ends of each of said two side walls including score lines along which the end portions of said side walls may each be folded upon itself, whereby, when said blank is folded and secured into said tubelike form and the opposed end edges of the front and rear walls at each end of the latter brought together along a substantially straight line, the respective said end portions of said side walls fold each upon itself along said score lines respectively and become alined along said straight line, said longitudinal flap being extended in the direction of its width and having extending therealong spaced score lines whereby said flap may be creased or folded longitudinally when brought into juxtaposition with and secured to the other marginal wall and there is formed by the folded portion of said flap a tube-like pasageway, said flap being foreshortened or cut away throughout only a portion of at least one end thereof and to include the said fold lines therein, whereby at least one end of said tube-like passageway is made to terminate short of the closure at that end of the ultimate container, said blank having a flap extension at that end of that wall thereof that becomes juxtaposed to the other end of said tubelike passageway.

8. A container made of a sheet material like paper, or the like, having a body, a wall portion of which extends substantially from the bottom of said body to the top of said body thereof and comprises two layers of said sheet material, said portion being deformed throughout its length but only throughout a portion of its width so as to form a tube-like passageway between said two layers that is of a cross-section relatively small as compared to the cross-section of said body.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 in which said tube-like passageway is open-ended externally of the container.

10. A container as claimed in claim 8 in which said tube-like passageway is open-ended internally of the container.

11. A container as claimed in claim 8 in which the lower end of said passageway terminates internally of the container adjacent the bottom thereof, said container having means adjacent its upper end for opening and exposing the upper end of said tube-like passageway.

12. A container made of a sheet material like paper, or the like, and a part made of sheet material and extending along a wall of said container and secured thereto, said part being deformed throughout its dimension lengthwise of said wall but throughout only a fraction of the width of i said wall so as to form between it and said wall a tube-like passageway that is of small cross section as compared to the cross-section of said container.

13. A container construction comprising sheet material folded into tube-like form, one of the longitudinal walls of which comprises substantially two layers ofsaid sheet material adhesively secured together, one of said layers having a longitudinally extending portion scored and folded to form with the other layer a tube-like passageway, said passageway being open-ended and being of a cross-section that is a small fraction of the cross-section of said tube-like form of container, said tube-like form of container construc- 1.

tion being collapsible in a direction to flatten it out for purposes of storage or shipment, the ends of said tube-like form of container construction having score lines and flap means whereby, when the container form is brought out of collapsed or flattened-out condition, the end portions of the walls forming the tube-like form may be folded into straight-line closures at the two ends, at least one of said closures having said flap means releasably secured.

14. A construction as claimed in claim 13 in which said tube-like passageway is openended at both ends interiorly of said container, the open end at one end being adjacent one of said closures and the other open end being adjacent said flap means, whereby upon said flap means being and forms a pocket for the reception of a straw or the like, said container being formed so that upon removal of said flap means at said one closure there is formed an aperture through which the straw removed from said tube-like pas-- sageway may be inserted and liquid contents of said container withdrawn.

OSCAR 1V. WENTZ. 

